•UCL President Joe Ajaero
The United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) has
commenced a nationwide strike.
The union is downing their tools over the failure
of the government to register the union, failure
to address Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) issues, deplorable state of Nigerian
roads, minimum wage increase, among other
demands.
The affiliated unions of ULC include Nigeria
Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG), Electricity Workers, Nigerian Union of
Mine Workers, National Union of Banks,
Insurance and Financial Institutions employees,
Association of Nigerian aviation professionals,
among others.
Kaduna state ULC chairman, Ephraim James
confirmed that the nationwide industrial action
commences midnight of Monday, September 18,
2017 until further notice.
In a statement signed by Mr Joe Ajaero,
President of the ULC, the union demands that,
“The Federal Government bans the stationing of
the Army and Police in our workplaces and
factory premises. The Government should
demand that the Federal Ministry of Labour sets
up a task force immediately to carry out factory
inspections as most of our factories are death
traps.
“An immediate review of the Privatisation of the
Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to
save Nigerians the agony of suffering under the
suffocating darkness which the GENCOs and
DISCOs have foisted on the nation and
immediately prevail on AMCON and Barrister
Nwaobike (SAN); the receiver manager of Delta
Steel Company Ovwian Aladja who short-paid
workers by 75% to quickly rectify it and repay
the deficit.
“The immediate payment of all the arrears of
salaries owed Nigerian workers at all levels of
Government without exception.
“The Federal Government honours its 2009
agreement with University Lecturers under the
umbrella of ASUU quickly and commence
negotiations with them on new issues so that our
universities will re-open.
“The roads leading to all the Petroleum
refineries and Depots nation-wide be repaired by
the Government to avoid the present carnage of
lives, wastage of products and properties on
these roads.
“That the proposed Bill at the National Assembly
seeking to control free speech couched under
the guise of the Bill against hate speech but has
the real intention of protecting the ruling elite
from being held accountable by the citizenry. We
therefore demand the discontinuance of that
obnoxious Bill by whoever sponsored it.
“The withholding of registration certificate of the
ULC be stopped and the certificate released
forthwith so that the nation’s Industrial Relations
clime will be made more inclusive and robust.
“The immediate inclusion of all representatives
of labour in the various committees, Agencies
and Directorates of Government and not singling
out just one centre for these purposes negating
the tenets of the nation’s Laws. Any of such
appointments that have been done contrary to
this, we demand an immediate reversal.
“The immediate inauguration of the national
minimum wage negotiating committee in line with
the above so that it can commence sitting
instantly.” (Channels TV)